Ode to Chocolate

Chocolate doesn’t make the world go round…but it certainly makes the ride worthwhile!

There’s more to life than chocolate…but not right now.

Simply put…everyone has a price. Mine is chocolate!

Can You Can-Can Too?

One night only at the Moulin Rouge:

Featuring the world-renowned Can-Can dancers Mahonia, Nicotiana and Mignonette!

Circus Circus

Come one, come all! To LuLu’s circus!

Featuring Lucinda the Performing Bear!

And Linus the Juggling Rabbit!

Fun and excitement guaranteed!

Love, Peace, and Happiness

A turn in time takes us back to the Summer of Love, where we meet these three musicians who are all about love, peace, happiness, and grooving to good tunes.

Even though they are busy rocking out to Strawberry Alarm Clock and sharing good vibes, they still take time out of their busy schedule to make tofu burgers and pass along the message of love and peace by participating in some protests and sit-ins.

I’m not going to tell you what W.D.W.Y.F.W stand for because it’s a bit rude.

Instead of painting the obligatory guitars often associated with hippies, I opted for the more obscure hurdy gurdy, an instrument I took up once out of simple curiosity. It’s a fascinating instrument that originated in the Holy Lands and was eventually brought back to Europe during the Crusades. My hurdy is now with my friend Wendy, who is probably getting more use out of it than I ever did.

Peace is the message, no matter what decade…or century…you’re in.

…and for utter Zen, here’s a little recipe for those enlightened few:

Yogi Tea Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

16 sticks of cinnamon (3″ long variety)

1 heaping TBSP of black peppercorns

2 level tsp of whole cloves

3 level TBSP of green cardamom pods.

2 2/3 cups of fresh ginger, chopped small

A small palm-full of black tea like English Breakfast or jasmine (or 6 teabags) for caffeine.

RECIPE:

Bring 2 gallons and 1 quart of water to a boil in a stainless steel pot. When at boil, put in the cinnamon sticks, cloves, peppercorns, and ginger. The mixture will stop boiling. Keep the heat on high until it boils again and then lower the heat to a very slow rolling boil and cover the pot. Boil for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the flame and let the tea sit for 1 1/2 hours at least, but not more than 3 hours. Strain the spices out. Bring back to boil and throw in the tea leaves. Let steep for 2 minutes. Strain the tea leaves out.

The yogi tea liquid, called “raw” yogi tea, is then mixed to taste with whole raw milk. Use a ratio of 50% tea, 50% milk, but some of you may like it stronger. After adding milk, bring the mixed tea back up to a near boil. Sweeten with honey. Use 1/3 cup honey per gallon of mixed Yogi tea. For a special touch, add 1-2 tsp of vanilla extract per gallon of mixed tea.

The Family Vampyre

With vampires being all the rage these days, what teenage girl wouldn’t want a family of them living next door to them? But unlike the Cullens or the Salvatores, the Family Vampyre are not about angst or a single-minded quest for human blood. They’re all about living the good life, funky hairdos, and integrating with the humans by participating in ordinary, run-of-the-mill activities. They might be viewed as eccentric, but no one has to fear for their life when the Vampyres open their door for a soiree.

Mr. Vernon Vampyre is the coolest Dad on the block…it might have something to do with his hairdo and his choice of pants.

Mrs.  Virginia Vampyre with a new addition to the family—an injured bat she’s nursing back to health and named Simon.

Veronica Vampyre is with the local bowling league. The Vampyre Vixens have been the undisputed champions at Schwaltz’s Bowling Alley four year in a row now.

Vance Vampyre is always up for a game of pool. Would you believe that he’s been a snooker player since the age of four? That is, before he learned not to puncture the billiard balls with his fangs.

Vonnie Vampyre can’t think of a better way to spend his days other than riding his trike and eating lollipops. He’ll have to watch it with the sweets, though. Those fangs don’t grow back once it’s rotted through.

A family like the Vampyres would be quite an asset to a block party, wouldn’t you say?

Skater Boyz

It’s all about the boys today.

I don’t like to bike down the promenade sometimes because it’s littered with boys trying to perfect their skateboarding techniques and I never know when one of them is going to end up under my wheel. “Go to a skateboard park, punk!” I’ll snarl at them before checking to see if damages have been done to my bike. But then, I’m not so annoyed to ask them where they got their tie-dyed pants.

Rainbow Girls

I remember how gray and dreary New York Winters are, which is why these gals have the right idea when it comes to making their day a little brighter…by pulling out all shades of the rainbow from their wardrobe!

Do you know cotton is an excellent sculpting medium? Yes, that’s what Lucy’s dreadlocks are made of.

Lynette is all about layering this season.

Lydia’s outfit is reminiscent of the strawberry patch she’s attempting to grow in her garden for several years now, minus a pink panda.

Some details…

If this is what the girls are wearing for the winter, I can’t wait to see their outfits for spring.

Even More Practical Magic

These two Good Luck Faeries were inspired by the two very special people in my life:

What’s Cookin’? Faery came about after reading numerous emails from my friend Debs, who could not stand in front of the stove without breaking out in hives. Fear no more! The What’s Cookin’? Faery is here to put the skittish ones at ease around those pesky pots and pans!

A cooking pot wand in one hand and a casserole dish in the other, she’s all about whipping up the perfect meal.

My Anthony, who is about to embark on a solo kayaking expedition from Cairns to Papua New Guinea (gulp!), will be the recipient of this particular Good Luck Faery…

However, he absolutely refuses to bring it with him unless I call it something else. So may I present to you the Bon Voyage Good Luck Talisman…the very first boy faery…er, I mean, talisman, in the collection!

Hoko-Ten

“Hoko-ten” means pedestrian paradise in Japanese. Streets are closed off for people to wander the roads without having to worry about oncoming cars. It is also a time for these three girls to flaunt their latest fashion statement…especially in the, that’s right, Harajuku District.

This set was inspired after a peek into a bakery.

Although this was a lot of fun to paint, I was forced to take a few days off afterwards. Even with the aid of the magnifying glass, I still felt a bit cross-eyed after each session!

Another (Mini!) Cupcake Pageant

Everything is cuter when it’s miniaturized—especially cupcakes!

These gals are smaller but just as competitive!

…and check out the “2-Dee” page for my latest and most favorite possession by a fantastic artist friend of mine!